I heard my name. 
Additionally, I posted this on your other thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21074351/#Comment_21074351
You’re really asking 2 questions:
• Should I take Chemistry?
• Should I take APES?
Many top colleges recommend at a minimum a year each of bio, chem, and physics before delving into AP Sciences (except AP Physics 1, which can sub for intro physics). So yes, you should take chem.
As for APES, chem is usually a prerequisite, and I see that it is at your school as well. So you might struggle with the class without some background in chem. Regardless of whether your school counts it as a chem credit, colleges will count it as a science elective.
Again, your school requires chem before AP Chem, and wisely so.