Wasn’t AP originated through elite prep schools collaborating with elite colleges? Of course, now that AP is widespread, having it is no longer a differentiator between ordinary schools and elite prep schools, so the latter need to claim that their courses and curricula are better than the AP courses commonly found at ordinary schools (and, being well-connected, can get elite colleges to trust them on that).
However, in the context of this thread, it does not look like the student attends such an elite prep school (AP courses appear to be the most rigorous options, unlike at elite prep schools), the student may take fewer than the school imposed limit anyway, and the student is likely not aiming for anything close to an elite-admissions college. In that context, having a solid college-prep course selection in high school, with few or no AP (or any other advanced-level) courses, should be fine for admission to many colleges and readiness for doing college work.