@Shrmpngrtz Was your child going to pursue a STEM-related major?
I can see a couple of different correct answers here. If the student intends to follow a STEM path, where math beyond Calculus II will certainly be required in college, then I would wholeheartedly agree that the student should try to take a further advanced math sequence course (even if not “required”). However, if the student is not interested in STEM, then taking a different course should be fine. My S19 will take Calculus BC as a junior, but has zero interest in a STEM career, with the closest interest being economics (and even that is doubtful). For him, taking Stats or perhaps a humanities elective is the better tack.