https://www.nchsaa.org/sites/default/files/attachments/NCHSAA_2018-19-Section1.pdf
1.1.1 A Local Education Agency (LEA), Non-Boarding Parochial or Charter School may have policies in any of these areas or others that are more restrictive than the state requirement, but the LEA may not have a policy for eligibility that is less restrictive
Cherokee County and other counties can be more restrictive than the state
1.2.4 Attendance: A student-athlete must meet the LEA attendance policy during the previous semester at an approved high school. (a) A student must, at the time of any practice and/or game in which he or she participates, be a regularly enrolled member of the school’s student body, according to local policy. If there is no local policy, “regularly enrolled” is defined as enrolled for at least one half of the “minimum load.”
Students can't play sports at any school other than the one they go to school at.
1.2.10 Transfer Policy: After initial entry into the ninth grade, and absent a bona fide move as provided in the Residence section of this Handbook (See 1.2.9): (a) A student transferring from one member school to another member school within the same LEA must sit out 365 days for athletic participation. The LEA can create criteria for immediate athletic eligibility for transfers (assignments) within the LEA. (b) A student transferring from one member school in one LEA to another member school in a different LEA must sit out two consecutive semesters, or 365 days, whichever is less, for athletic participation. NOTE: A student’s participation in cheerleading is not subject to the NCHSAA Transfer Policy. (1) By mutual agreement that the transfer is not for athletic purposes, a student’s first transfer from LEA to LEA, and absent a bona fide move, is not subject to the NCHSAA Transfer Policy
County to county transfers are allowed one time. Within county transfers require a 1 year sit-out unless the LEA has rules to allow immediate eligibility. Cherokee County chose to not allow immediate eligibility.