This study assessed the livability of Baharestan neighborhood in Shahrood city, Iran, through urban land use planning, focusing on educational facilities as a case study. It adopted a descriptive-analytical method with a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach. Eight criteria—location, compatibility priority, connectivity type, quantitative, social, environmental, spatial, and qualitative—were extracted from literature and specialized sources. Data were gathered and analyzed via GIS software (for access, service radius, and per capita calculations), field observations, and checklists. The neighborhood’s educational network consists of 2 kindergartens, 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 art school. Strengths include an appropriate service radius (500–1200 meters), suitable proximity to green spaces and residential zones, effective pedestrian access, and lack of environmental pollution. Major challenges encompass per capita deficits in kindergartens (1620 m²), middle schools (2933 m²), and art schools (1114 m²), contrasted by a surplus in elementary schools (6033 m²). Other issues involve over-concentration on busy roads leading to heavy traffic, poor traffic safety, limited nighttime surveillance, inadequate use diversity, and weak visual contrast. Elementary schools received the highest score (3.87), while kindergartens and art schools scored lowest (3.25). SWOT analysis identified strengths such as extensive service coverage and functional convergence, and weaknesses including high traffic generation and absence of complementary cultural uses. The study concludes that optimized educational planning enhances livability by advancing spatial justice, safety, social interactions, and environmental quality. Proposed solutions involve raising per capita standards, redistributing facilities, bolstering safe pedestrian and bicycle networks, improving physical identity, and adding complementary cultural and sports facilities.