<![CDATA[Equal access to education is an important indicator in human resource development and reducing regional inequality in Indonesia. Differences in geographical conditions, socio-economic factors, and availability of educational infrastructure may create disparities in educational participation across provinces. This study aims to analyze the pattern of educational participation inequality across provinces in Indonesia and to identify regional groupings based on education participation levels.This research employs a quantitative approach using provincial educational participation data by education level in 2025. The analysis was conducted through descriptive statistical analysis, spatial mapping, and regional clustering using the K-Means clustering method.The results show that participation at the basic education level is relatively evenly distributed, with an average participation rate of 98.06 percent at the primary school level and 94.66 percent at the junior secondary school level. However, participation declines at the senior secondary level to 76.75 percent and decreases more significantly at the higher education level to 29.48 percent. The clustering results identify three regional groups consisting of a high participation group with two provinces, a medium participation group with twenty-four provinces, and a relatively low participation group with twelve provinces. This study contributes theoretically by integrating spatial analysis and unsupervised machine learning in examining educational inequality, thereby advancing the application of computational approaches in public policy analysis. From a policy perspective, the findings provide an empirical basis for data-driven governance and support the formulation of place-based education policies aimed at reducing regional disparities in educational participation.]]>
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