<p>What your high school is recognized as really doesn’t matter. The college is NOT considering your school as the student, the college is considering YOU. Ok, there are other kids that get into Ivies. Are they the ones applying right now? No, it’s YOU. Don’t bother worrying about them.
I come from a school where athletes are usually the only ones with a realistic shot at Ivies (except for one of those rare legacies that come around once in awhile). Even the athletes, maybe 1 every 4 years get into an Ivy. Still, I got into an Ivy. I was one of few from my school to get in without athletic recruiting or legacy status for the past several years. Did that impact me much? No.
Rec letters are IMPORTANT. If one of your teachers said you were a lazy student who does nothing but stir up trouble and cheat your way through classes, you would be rejected 100% of the time.</p>