In the end, no matter what - you need safe schools - and if you want to play sports, that impacts. Maybe you can get into Dartmouth but they don’t want you for hockey.
There are rural/urban schools that are outdoorsy which are easier admits. U Montana as an example. An Elon or SD School of Mines or Idaho or UNH or U Maine or Whitman or App State …many. Yes I know you’ll hate the names.
That why, if you go to a top boarding school, the counselors and coaches seem a better place for guidance than here.