How Important is Quality of High School in Acceptance to Elite Universities?

You have already received a lot of good advice on this thread but I will chime in anyway. While I don’t think the quality of a high school affects acceptance to elite universities, I do believe exposure to rigorous coursework in math and science is beneficial for elite college preparation and, in particular, for engineering.

My concern with options B and C are the lack of AP science courses. My S is studying engineering and his high school preparation, which included extensive AP/IB options in both math and science, made his college transition easier.

His introductory engineering courses have mostly been review and he says he has fewer problem sets than he did in high school. And, while he didn’t enjoy his high school math teacher’s conceptual teaching style, it led to a greater understanding of math and allowed him the grace to master mathematical concepts in a low-stakes environment. This dynamic held true for his high school physics and chemistry classes too.

So, no I don’t think your son would be at a disadvantage for admissions purposes, but he may find himself overwhelmed in introductory classes.