I teach engineering (a program similar to PLTW) and AP Physics in high school. If your son is serious about engineering, then I recommend he take the most rigorous math and physics classes during high school as a top priority. The engineering course at the high school level provides a useful overview of the engineering process and engineer career options. But to survive the engineering major at a top college, the student needs to be very strong in math and physics. I have witnessed too many engineering students stunned by the rigor of college level math and physics courses as college freshmen. These students had earned scores of 5 in their AP Calculus and AP Physics exams, but they realized after starting college that the rigor in college was much higher. So while PLTW is very worthwhile, please understand that it is no substitute for rigorous math and physics. And if your son is interested in both engineering and business, I recommend majoring in engineering rather than business. Engineering majors can transition over time into business oriented jobs much, much more easily than the converse. Thus the engineering major would provide your son more options career wise.
@PeaceOfMind , here I head from you, take vigorous AP science, but even score 5 was not good enough. Then I recommend student don’t take AP science or Calculus in HS. The reason is lot of students cram the materials but not mature enough to know the concept. College Physics and Chemistry, even Calculus may assume student had no previous AP background. I’ve seen students start Cal 1, Cal 2 in college without AP Cal background and managed to get As. The only problem in College Cal is those are taught by TAs, some may just came out of BS degree for a year or 2. They may not know how to teach. At the end of day, not all student got 5 in APs end up graduate > 3.50 in science or engr. It is natural that only certain portion of students will be successful regardless of their AP score is 3 or 4 or 5. Individuals have 5 may not be smarter or better than individuals have 3 sometimes.
@lemonlulu My point is that because college level math and physics can be so much more demanding that high school students expect, high school students should prepare themselves, not avoid preparing themselves.