First of all, neither student broke the ED contact if they did not get the financial aid their families felt they needed to attend the schools. You would be surprised, I’m sure at the number of families perceived ( and often are) well to do who apply for financial aid. Some even get some such aid. Some won’t go to a school without a certain level of aid.
You should address this with your highschool counselor if it is bothering you. That Dept will know the particulars. Doubt they’d tell you the whole story but can directly adddresd your concerns.
I was directly told by several school GCs that it can hurt future students if a High school had blatant disregard for breaking ED contacts. That means not attending when there is no financial aid issue in the picture. But all a student needs to do to get around that issue is apply for financial aid and say it’s not enough if accepted ED and want out. It’s not something I believe happens that often due to the whole high psychological pressures of applying ED. But I wouldn’t be surprised it happens.