With the timing of Mary's death relative to the normal beginning of Dean's scholastic career, it seems more likely to me that he didn't start school until he was 6 than Sam starting high school at 13, given how much they moved around and John's probably lack of interest in advancing Sam's academic path.

This. Also, given Dean's approach to schoolwork (not to approach it at all, most likely), I would not be surprised if there was a repeated year in there somewhere.

Ahaha. I'm picturing now the notion of a S6 run by Gamble and Edlund, and it would basically be cheestastic gay porn with a side of misanthropy and dead weird guys.

Not to mention hilariously blatant meta.

Plei is me in this. While I think ending with five as planned is the best-case scenario, it's not as if Marty Noxon is waiting in the wings to take over as showrunner for Season Six. I tend to like both Gamble's and Edlund's work, and am sure I'd still enjoy watching if either or both were in charge.

Has Kripke said that he won't sign on to do a sixth season? Or is it in negotiations? Or is the show saying that they won't sign Kripke up for a season 6?

Kripke's original storyline was supposed to take five seasons, start to finish. The threat of cancellation in S3 caused him to jettison some progression in order to fit the arc into S4...until S5 was magically granted, and then he had to throw the brakes on to save as much of the S5 arc till S5 as possible.

He has a development deal with the network, and has planned to be finished with SPN by the end of S5 before devoting full time to new projects. He has said, and I can't find the quote right now, that he would not be directly involved if the show went past S5, that he might contribute some ideas as to storylines or monsters to be fought, but that his story would be finished as of S5.

If it does go to a S6, what I might like to see happen in S5 is for us to meet a handful of semi-regulars--giving them just enough screen time to leave us wanting more--and then building one or more of them up as regulars for S6.

If S6 is more of an ensemble show, but with Sam and Dean still being the center of gravity for the show, it might allow for some different kinds of stories to take place.

If Kripke really finishes what he wants to do with the characters in S5, then yeah. I'd rather have S6.

Although ... I'd still probably *watch* it. With BtVS, I like to pretend S7 doesn't exist, and that S6 was sort of ... fanfic. Remixes and outtakes and ill-advised wish-fulfillment.

If Kripke really finishes what he wants to do with the characters in S5

With this proviso, sure. As long as S5 is done as though there won't be a season six, I'm fine with there being a season six. I just don't want season 5 screwed up. If they can avoid screwing up season 5, then (if the chance arises) take your best shot at making season six. It either works or doesn't. But it would be really rare for the possibility of a next season not to affect the current one.

Just a note about Sam and Dean being in the same school - some small towns have combined middle/high schools (mine did), so it wouldn't be impossible.

September 10th!!! - premiere date.

My California school system combined middle and elementary school. You went right from the last (8th) grade of elementary school into high school. And some really small towns (not in California I think) were K-12 elementary through high school all in one building.