Spatial heterogeneity of national sports specialized model school in China: an analysis of agglomeration and its causes

To advance educational equity, this study examines the spatial mechanisms of National Sports Specialized Model Schools (NSSMS) in Heilongjiang, China. Using a mixed-methods approach integrating GIS and fsQCA, we analyzed data from 142 NSSMS across five conditions: GDP, population, school count, sports culture, and educational expenditure. GIS revealed a unipolar agglomeration centered on Harbin with significant spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I = 0.233, p < 0.01). fsQCA identified two high-aggregation pathways: a “Comprehensive Development” path (consistency = 0.977) driven by holistic advantages, and a “Resource-Driven” path (0.812) leveraging fiscal and economic strength to offset deficits. All four low-aggregation pathways shared low educational expenditure as a necessary condition, confirming causal asymmetry. These findings demonstrate that NSSMS distribution is non-random and condition-dependent. We propose differentiated, evidence-based policies—prioritizing fiscal investment and tailored strategies for specific configurational paths—to optimize the spatial equity of educational resources.