WOW!!! First of all it looks like I'm going to have alot of dis friends close once we move

Secondly, thank you all so much for all the information and links. It helps but I have to admit, I'm more confused now than before.....LOL....all the townships, etc. I have been really researching myself on the different areas but it's always nice to have feedback from actual people in the area and schools. I just need to really study what you have provided me so far and go to
AAA and get a better map!!!
Currently we are in the greensboro, NC area. We love it here, the environment, weather (62 and sunny right now), and the pace of life. We have lived here for about 8 yrs moving from Chicago so we are used to the city paced life as well.
We are in a 4400 sq foot house now that's all brick, hardwood, solid surface counters,etc. We have 5 bedrooms and 4 baths and we are on just short of 2 acres. We paid about $380,000 5 yrs ago. I'm telling you this to give you an idea to help me w/cost of living adjustments, etc.
I have 5 kids. My oldest is going to be starting at John's Hopkins in the fall so only 4 at home plus my husband and I. I think I really need 5 bedrooms still so the kids can have their own. There is such an age gap between all of them it would be hard for them to share. When/if my son comes home during the summers, he can bunk with his brother. I would like to stay in a comparable home if at all possible that isnt going to cost an arm and a leg but not sure what a realistic price would be for such a creature. I know I won't get the same lot size and that's okay as long as we are not on top of our neighbors. I know due to price there will be sacrifices that will need to be made and I'm okay with that.
With regards to the school....here in NC, the schools are not that great. You can have an elementary school in your backyard where your kid would go but do to redistricting, which seems to happen everytime some sneezes, your child could be bussed clear across town. As a result of that, my kids are currently in a private school which we have been very pleased with. I've heard that the public schools in the areas that others have mentioned are good so I'm okay with the public school system it's just trying to get the school system to match up w/the housing.
Couple of questions:
Help me understand a little better what is used in determining what school district your child is actually in, the homes physical address, the townships/counties your in, ???
Are there cities there within the counties or is everything just by counties, ie for the TE schooldistrict, what cities would qualify for that district.
When I look at some homes for sale online, you will see the school information and it might list a couple of middle schools, a handful of elementary and one or two high schools, Can you choose which of those schools you would want your child to attend or is that just determined by where your house is?
Is there alot of redistricting that goes on which causes your child to go to school "A" for one year, then redistricting occurs and then the next year, the child has to go to school "B"?
Even though I need 5 bedrooms, I'm finding on the internet searches that putting 5 in as a search criteria, really either limits the houses available or it puts you up into the million dollar price tags. If I were to search for 4 bdrms, do the houses that your familiar with have the flexibility of having a 5th bedroom somewhere, like the houses with basements?
Thanks again for everything.