Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of basic education facilities in Karst mountainous area: A case study of Qixingguan District, Bijie City

Taking Qixingguan District of Bijie City as a case study, this article examines the spatial distribution and influencing factors of basic education facilities in Karst mountainous areas by applying the nearest neighbor index, Thiessen polygons, Kernel Density Estimation, and Geographically Weighted Regression. The findings reveal that: 1) Basic education facilities in Qixingguan District show marked spatial heterogeneity, generally decreasing from urban to rural zones, with higher density in the southwest and lower density in the northeast. Such an unbalanced spatial pattern is closely related to the regional differences in economic development level and population agglomeration degree. Except for primary schools, junior high schools, and comprehensive secondary schools, which are more evenly distributed, other facility types exhibit clustered spatial patterns and vary notably in service coverage across educational levels. 2) Kernel density analysis highlights a “one core, two belts, multiple points” spatial structure, with density values radiating outward from the urban center in a multi-arc pattern toward the eastern and northern parts of the district. The multi-arc radiation path not only takes the central urban area as the core but also connects several key towns, forming preliminary educational resource connection channels between urban and suburban areas. 3) Distribution of teaching resources follows a pattern of “small clustered centers with broad peripheral dispersion.” Hotspots are scattered in starlike and cross-shaped formations in central urban areas and town centers, while cold spots are mainly found in remote high-altitude mountainous regions. Most cold spot areas are restricted by harsh natural conditions, resulting in relatively low accessibility of educational resources for local residents. 4) Spatial arrangement of these facilities is shaped by both natural and socioeconomic factors, among which distance to urban centers, road accessibility, slope, and proximity to rivers exert the most significant influence. For instance, areas with gentle slopes and good road accessibility tend to have a higher concentration of basic education facilities, while areas far from rivers and urban centers have fewer facilities. This study offers insights for optimizing the spatial allocation of educational facilities in Karst mountain regions, with implications for promoting educational equity and balanced development.