both of my girls took DE classes. Precovid my oldest took two years at a college campus with other students), my other daughter did one year plus few more but due to covid her classes were primarily synchronous at home with all college students). Neither took AP.
Both of my girls still participated in high school activities. They still could go before/after school, have lunch there if it fit their schedule etc. They had the benefits of high school guiance counselors as well as whatever they chose to use at the college. My youngest was able to take high school choir which met at 7:45am before her college classes.
Based on your other post about classes -they still had to take anything they needed for high school graduation such as math every year, English every year etc. They had to finish classes like gym and health which they did before doing full time dual enrollment - basically it did not exempt them from anything plus guidance still made sure they were on track for college vs just high school grduation.
Both ended up in private colleges and received freshman merit scholarships. There credits were accepted after they accepted and paid or the school but beore classes started. Before the official matriculation colleges would give ideas on what they would accept but not on an official level… Some creidis simply had no use and were just unneeded free electives. After fulfilling high school graduation requirements and college needs they were free to take what they wanted and for them none of those classes had ap equivalents (like there is no AP accounting, AP criminal justice etc). Neither got an associates because that 1 did not interest them and 2 it allowed them to take some classes to explore potential majors etc. In addition the classes were all free including books.
I think you really would benefit from talking to your gc to understand what you need to do if you do the de route. Assuming you are taking the classes on campus how is transportation to/from your high school. Will you miss things like lunch with friends. I would also highly suggest as you get closer to applying you contact various colleges you are interested to ask them questions but what applies to one college may not apply to other colleges. Also if your de classes are held on your high school with other high school students several colleges do consider that to be different than taking college classes on a college campus with other college students.