Hello DAB:
What state do you live in?
If his SAT scores are ridiculously high and you absolutely want your child to attend a four-year university, then you should check to see if they have a scale with regards to SAT scores and GPAs. For example if he has a 1400 can his GPA be a 2.0.
It’s not shameful to start at a community college. Its great if you can attend a university live on campus etc for all of your undergraduate years but unfortunately that doesn’t happen for everyone.
Many community colleges offer honors course, which can be very challenging even at the community college level. To be honest if your son flounders at the community college level he probably won’t do so hot at the university level either.
He probably wants to attend a four-year school because all of his other friends are planning to go to one.