His parents should let their kid make his own decisions. When you start thinking about which high school to go to, the parents should act as advisors, not dictators.

Not necessarily... If you're going to focus on engineering, at the high school level you should maintain a focus on that subject, but put lots of effort toward getting other college requirements out of the way. I.E. if you're going to be an engineer take all your math/ physics etc, but if you're going to be taking AP/ IB classes, you want them to be ones that are things that you won't have to repeat in college. If you take AP/ IB history/ english (and chemistry, depending on engineering branch), and those credits are accepted by the college, then you don't have to take them again, depending on the college's degree program. Calculus and physics, you'll have to repeat at least part of anyways, so taking too advanced of courses there, while beneficial to your own mind, won't save you any money in the long run.

Now, another thing. For this 'technology based' school, be sure that its either engineering prep or some sort of transferable engineering degree not Engineering Technology. There is a gigantic difference. Engineering technology programs are generally (not always) designed for two year degree programs (i.e. community college) to get you directly into the workforce without going to a full four year university and actually becoming a certified Professional Engineer, which is what I'm guessing your pal wants to be.

Internships look great for future employment, but if you're talented enough, you should be able to land one of those regardless of where you go.

mmm. you raise some good points there jdawg.

heres a link to the classes and the like for each year

charts

Shroud, that schedule you posted is very similar to what I took in high school, though my senior year I took classes at the community college to get a jump start. Those courses should all be available at either school, but I'd look into who can teach them better (faculty/facility wise)

Based on what i saw and heard at the School fair and open houses i think o'berry is much better suited to the subjects.