I’ll hazard a guess at what @417WHB is driving at. A kid with a 95 ssat and strong app. #1 might be PA, 2 Nobles, 3 CA. Kid may be happy at those three but not Lawrence Academy that would be what I consider a safety for such an applicant.
I think better to apply to a range of matches than a school with a totally different level of rigor thinking it’s a sure thing.