“I heard that…” and “I’ve read that…” are really, realllyyyyyy bad sources of info. Over the 4 yrs I’ve been involved as a USNA parent, and watched from the cheap seats, there have been visible strides put in place to create a more diverse (in all underrepresented demographisclass. And that includes all underrepresented demographics. Not ‘just skin color’.
I’ve seen (and heard talks in trainings I’ve attended recently) admissions outreach programs to underrepresented demo’s, a new program just this year. This is AWESOME. There are fantastic candidates in places hidden. I liken it to a treasure hunt….stuff washed up on the beach is easy to see. But there are also treasures (candidates) covered and hidden. Outreach to find those, and encouraging them to apply….this is the emphasis on how to add to a diverse brigade…spreading the word about USNA, so that there are more candidates applying, representing our diverse nation.
There is so much involved in an appointment (way beyond a normal college) that making a blanket statement about any part of the application process (including the nomination piece that is separate from the SA) will always be an inaccurate statement. Each individual person is looked at, in whole, in conjunction with that slate. And that process is never public, so we will never know ( now THERE is a best seller book

idea…). It’s more under wraps than most things
Yes there is a spot on the application for ‘prefers not to answer (or similar)’.
Look at prior years class profiles to see the breakdown of class composition.
Good luck to every candidate!