Ashleigh, bookmark this page and keep an eye out for updates:
http://portal.dean.usma.edu/admissions/Pages/SoutheastEventsMain.aspx When an admissions event comes to your area, grab your parents and go. There will be plenty of folks available to speak with your family, excellent videos, and folders of information to take home and look at.
West Point likes go-getters. Jump on these obstacles and take action. You will see on the forum that plenty of candidates go to schools that don't employ class ranks and West Point has a way to work around that. Your SAT/ACT scores will figure in that so when the time comes to take these tests, prepare in advance and knock 'em dead!
Finally, you end most of your posts by mentioning that your mother doesn't want to get involved with the public schools. What exactly does this mean?