My son applied to USMA , USNA, and USAFA, as well as ROTC, and had success with all. I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.
My son is at USMA now, going through Beast, but it was only a little more than a year ago that he decided to apply, and it was a whirlwind over the past year, with applications to each academy, each MOC, ROTC, interviews, CFA training, ACT exams, teacher evaluations, letters of recommendation, transcripts, school visits, and the list goes on.
He was offered appointment to USMA, USAFA, and wait listed at USNA, but was called by USNA literally two days before we left for R-DAY to determine if he wanted an appointment there. He didn't. What we learned is that there is a process, and that it can be mastered to an extent. Obviously, the applicant must have the substance, but part of this process is learning to maximize those numbers, as you add to the substance all along the way (increasing ACT scores, CFA scores, getting great teacher evaluations, etc.). It isn't "gaming" the system, but rather understanding how things work, and putting yourself in the most competitive position.
I will add also that this forum is a valuable resource, but it also includes some old, and otherwise bad information, along with the good. At WP, the best information comes during face to face contact with the RC's. But those opportunities are few.
It is interesting watching these threads for the 2021 class application cycle, as virtually every issue is one my son went through, and we had to troubleshoot. It is, I believe, a deliberate part of the process, which is not meant to be easy. It is an obstacle course, and not many have the skills or perseverance to get to the finish line. Keep working hard and push forward. In the end I can tell you, there are few things more exciting than seeing your child receive an appointment to a service accademy.