The test-optional decision is more nuanced than it appears — admissions and scholarship eligibility often use different standards.
The Admissions vs. Scholarship Distinction
When a school says it's 'test-optional,' that typically applies specifically to first-year admissions decisions. Many schools maintain separate test score requirements for merit scholarship programs even while making scores optional for admission itself. A student might be admitted without scores but be ineligible for an $8,000/year merit scholarship that requires a minimum SAT — a distinction families often don't discover until after enrollment.
State Merit Programs
State merit scholarship programs — Georgia HOPE, Florida Bright Futures, West Virginia PROMISE, Tennessee Promise, and others — almost universally require standardized test scores as part of eligibility criteria. If your state has a merit scholarship program, you almost certainly need to take and submit scores to claim those funds regardless of any individual school's test-optional admissions policy.
What to Do
Check each target school's scholarship requirements separately from admissions testing requirements. Look specifically at institutional merit scholarship eligibility, honors program eligibility (often requires scores), and your state's merit scholarship program requirements. In most cases, taking the SAT or ACT protects scholarship eligibility even if scores ultimately aren't needed for admissions.