To find out whether there may be changes next year -- try looking here:
http://wwwgis2.wcpss.net/cgi-bin/Production/MainScript.pl?MainOption=StreetMain (broken link)
That is the place I put in our "new address" (we are making an offer, I HOPE it will be our new address!) and it comes up with the current assigned schools and a link to proposed changes. For our address, it says "No changes proposed for this node". (That was a relief) If you haven't already, try putting in the address, follow the link to draft proposal, and it should tell you whether or not your area might be affected by the proposed changes.
Here is a link to a section of the local newspaper's website where you will find lots of info about what's making news in the school system -- mostly reassignment issues!
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/
About Panther Creek school -- we have been researching which high school we'd like for our kids (who will be starting 10th and 11th grades there next year), and we were really impressed with PC. The ONLY reason we eliminated it is that our son (our oldest) would start next year in their highest grade and they told me they probably wouldn't be able to offer all the classes he wants to take. He's a very serious student and wants to take AP and other advanced classes that would mostly consist of 12th graders... with 11th graders being their highest grade they would just not have enough students to offer some of those classes. They said they would be able to work with us and maybe he could even go to Green Hope HS or Apex HS for part of the day, but we thought that would just be too complicated and we'd try first to find somewhere to live that already was assigned to Apex or GH. We found a neighborhood and house we love that's in Apex HS area. Anyway long story but the point is that I think PC is a great school and if our son was a year younger (or not wanting the AP classes, 6th-year honors Spanish, etc.) PC would definitely be our #1 choice. Their new school is very nice, and I can see the advantages to having only 9th-10th-11th next year... I was also impressed with everyone I spoke with there -- especially the band director, I exchanged a few emails with him and he was really helpful.