This is not uncommon. There are a lot of high schools that don't rank. Part of the PC "Everybody gets a Trophy for Participation".
I don't think it's a major disadvantage to applying to the academies. This is why they use your Class Schedule; what classes are offered vs what you took; your GPA; and your ACT/SAT scores. So they can compare an applicant from my type of school to another.
Where it's a disadvantage to students, is "In the REAL WORLD". In the real world, it is COMPETITION. Companies hire the best people they can; for the money they have to spend; who will make the company the most money. Contrary to PC thought; except for some small mom/pop type private companies; large corporations aren't prejudice and don't discriminate based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, etc. They are prejudice only against one color..... "GREEN". They want the best person for best profit for the least cost. This is a disadvantage to today's kids, because they think it's "NOT FAIR". They are told competition is bad. That is a tragedy. Kids need to be taught that they aren't ENTITLED to anything. Not in the world of employment, education, and economics. They need to be taught to work for what they want. Tired of schools and other parts of society pushing their "Feel Good" attitudes and not wanting hurt someone's feelings. That's why people 80-90 years ago who were on any type of "PUBLIC ASSISTANCE" did everything they could to get off of it. Today's people on Public Assistance, (Many, not all), try to find ways to get more.
If you went back 20+ years of my emails, blogs, forums, and personal conversations; you'll find that I've always believed that Political Correctness would be, and has been, the downfall of our society. And I still believe that. There is absolutely NOTHING WRONG with ranking kids in high school. Of course, I'd rather see a school like yours where they DON'T RANK at all; vs the school that ranks ALL the 4.0 students as #1 and/or valedictorian. Even though some took IB programs and all AP Classes; while some took the minimum state required classes.