For a prospective engineering major, some kind of physics in high school is recommended as a prerequisite for taking calculus-based physics in college.
Getting advanced placement in physics is much less reliable than for some other subjects. For a prospective engineering major considering AP physics courses, only the C exams have a chance of giving advanced placement (since the 1 and 2 exams are for non-calculus-based physics), but many colleges do not allow advanced placement for the C exams due to lower mathematical intensity (particularly for E&M, which commonly has multivariable calculus as a corequisite in college) and topic coverage (there topics covered in the first and second calculus-based physics courses may include some not present in the AP physics C courses).
So the choices are:
a. Take high school physics for a brief overview at the high school level (should be sufficient prerequisite for physics in college).
b. Take AP physics 1 and 2 for a somewhat more in-depth non-calculus-based overview of the range of physics topics (no advanced placement should be expected in college).
c. Take whatever sequence allows taking AP physics C courses/exams to try for advanced placement in physics, but understanding that it is not given at many colleges.
d. Take calculus-based physics at a local college to try for advanced placement in physics.
Note: the SAT subject test in physics is best taken after a high school physics course covering the full range of topics, or after both AP physics 1 and 2. Some colleges or their engineering divisions want to see SAT subject tests including math and a science.