It depends on whether you want to maximize scholarship money, meaning whether you view high school as a financial investment.
For $$$ maximization, you want to get your kid into the lowest SES school that is still of solid quality and shoot for valedictorian. That should get you a full ride to a nice state school, where you then repeat the process and get a high GPA.
Worked for my sister-in-law.
Although now she's making $0 in her pediatric dentistry residency. The $0 will change in the future, however.
