Worried about applying in NC

<p>Son has
Overall 2.6 UW, 3.0 W. Jumped to 3.6 W for Junior year alone (please tell me this helps, even at a big university who might have less time to consider each app).
Honors courses-- a handful.
AP classes, signed up for Music Theory next year, but maybe he should add one more? He is taking Honors US Gov't next year-- good idea to move this to AP? He is good at history, but it is hard to say how well he will do.
He has a learning disability. Very bright, but bad test-taker, especially if long.
His first ACT was 20 overall (his math brought him down). He will take it again in the fall.
Struggling with SAT SO FAR... will take again (CR 450, M 470, W 530)
He only wants to go to a N. Carolina School. I also can afford a state school, so that works. But they have gotten more and more competitive. Looking at App State, UNC-A, UNC-C, Western, UNC-G, UNC-W, ECU. Favorites are App St, UNC-C, and ECU.
He has good ECs, especially in music, though does not want to major in it (maybe minor). Community service. Summer job.
Counselors think APs or Honors not recommended unless got an A the previous year in subject. Been following that advice all these years with some regret. He goes to a challenging school. Wondering if C in AP is worse or better than A in regular class, and if he should go for the AP in Government next year. Any thoughts on his stats? Thanks for any advice! </p>