I honestly think you need to evaluate based on your own school policies and the student.
For us - no charge for classes or textbook rentals
Rigor - we have the entire college catalog to pick from providing:
1 Class provides college level credits vs a class that you can’t attempt to transfer
2 you meet the prerequisites to take
3 meets at a time that works for you
There are plenty of options at ap level or higher if you want that
At our school DE classes are taken at a college with college students
Value - for some students the value is in the credits
- for some students the value is in the independent schedule
- for some students the value is taking electives you wish to take
- for some students the value is in learning that you can succeed in a typical college class that doesn’t meet 5 days a week
- for some perhaps getting an associate’s in high school will give them a job they can use to work to pay their way through higher learning that will make it possible for them to obtain a Bachelor’s degree or higher