This definitely should not be used as a mark of school “quality.” Nor do APs play much of a role in college admissions.
BUT I am with @CateCAParent on this. If you can use your AP scores to place out of a FL requirement or for placement in math, or to fulfill some other requirement, I am very much for it. Why pay twice for material you have mastered, especially when the desirable class options at most colleges far outnumber the number of classes you’ll be able to take?