You’re really asking 2 questions:
• Should I take Chemistry?
• Should I take APES?
Many top colleges recommend at a minimum a year each of bio, chem, and physics before delving into AP Sciences (except AP Physics 1). So yes, you should take chem.
As for APES, chem is usually a prerequisite, and I see that it is at your school as well. So you might struggle with the class without some background in chem. Regardless of whether your school counts it as a chem credit, colleges will count it as a science elective.
Again, your school requires chem before AP Chem, and wisely so.