What does your child want to major in? If engineering, absolutely take AP Physics C, if available and your child has taken (or is in BC Calculus), otherwise AP Physics 1. If your child is applying to engineering programs, they need to get a taste of what that first physics course in college is going to be like and make sure they are prepared for it. If your child is interested in sciences, but not necessarily engineering, I would check the specific programs to see what the freshman courses are. AP Physics would be useful, but not critical IMO. If your child is not interested in engineering or a science field, there's no need for more advanced physics.