What type of major are you interested in?
At this point, getting a B in AP Chem wouldn’t dent your GPA that much (and not at all at many universities that only consider grades 9-11).
If you enjoy band, take it. If you don’t, AP Chem may help, depending on what major you plan on pursuing.
What’s your EFC and can your parents afford it? (Most parents can’t). Have you run the NPC’s and talked with them about cost?
Because NYU is very expensive and famously stingy with financial aid, so it may not be an option, but there are lots of excellent urban schools if that’s what you’re interested in, from DePaul to UMN-Twin Cities to Northeastern to American University.