Title

Classroom of the Elite

Also known as: Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e, ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ, ขอต้อนรับสู่ห้องเรียนนิยม (เฉพาะ) ยอดคน, 欢迎来到实力至上主义的教室

by Shougo Kinugasa, Yuyu Ichino

Score from AniList: 70/100releasing

Drama Mystery Psychological More like Classroom of the Elite

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Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, a leading prestigious school with state-of-the-art facilities where nearly 100% of students go on to university or find employment. The students there have the freedom to wear any hairstyle and bring any personal effects they desire. Kōdo Ikusei is a paradise-like school, but the truth is that only the most superior of students receive favorable treatment. The protagonist Kiyotaka Ayanokōji is a student of D-class, which is where the school dumps its “inferior” students in order to ridicule them. For a certain reason, Kiyotaka was careless on his entrance examination, and was put in D-class. After meeting Suzune Horikita and Kikyō Kushida, two other students in his class, Kiyotaka’s situation begins to change.

Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 3.5/5

A cold, twist-heavy school drama where a meritocratic academy's students battle for status, and its protagonist plays a quieter game than anyone expects.

Pros

A psychological chess-match tone with a clear central hook
Sharp, ambitious ideas about class and merit
A strong anti-hero lead keeps the reader guessing

Cons

Talk-heavy scenes can slow the momentum
The school structure can feel contrived

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Read the full take

Rin's first note is that this one thinks it is smarter than you. It mostly is. The school is built on a cold idea about merit, and every class and reward is a lever. The protagonist is a quiet anti-hero who plays a longer game than anyone expects, which keeps you reading. The psychological tension is the real draw. You are always wondering what someone is hiding. Honest take: the talk-heavy scenes can slow things down, and some of the setup feels contrived to fit the school's rules. The twists are clever, but they lean on the same kind of reveal repeatedly. Once you see the pattern, the surprises start to feel mechanical. Still, the ideas are sharp, and the tone is confident. If you like strategy and social manoeuvring with a dark streak, it is worth your time. Just be ready to think.