Most kids around here can take dual enrollment, so he couldn’t sign up for an arts course at a community college or something similar?
Could he take Italian online?
Sounds like he is targeting super selective schools if he is worried about the 4th year of language.
Make sure that you run net price calculators on some of the schools’ websites to see how much you would have to pay if he was accepted and wanted to go there.
Families are shocked when they find out they make too much for financial aid, but don’t want to pay full price of $50,000 or more a year and then student feels like all hard work in hs was wasted if they get into reach school and it’s not affordable.
If he is interested in STEM, engineering, the fact that the school is ABET accredited and has good opportunities for research and internships is more important than the name.
So depending on the number the NPC spits out it is important to apply to schools where he will reach his educational goals and that are affordable.