Mirza Aaqib Beg
‘Welcome to the Classroom of The Elite’ or ‘Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e’ is a psychological thriller anime set in a high school. The school separates students into classes based on their performances. Class A is for the elites, while D is for the losers. But the students of Class D can rise up, and there are no rules barring them from doing so. It is entertaining to see how people behave in such a cutthroat situation. If you enjoyed watching this anime and are looking for more shows that explore similar themes and ideas, then you have come to the right place. Here’s a list of anime similar to ‘Classroom of the Elite.’ You can watch some of these shows on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.
7. Prison School (2015)
‘Prison School’ is one of the most entertaining ecchi anime that has a lot of fanservice and lewd moments. Interestingly, the plot is also intriguing, the character development is decent, and the animation is just spot-on. The reason why ‘Prison School’ is on this list is because of certain similarities it shares with ‘Classroom of the Elite.’ Both of these shows are set in a high school. The schools have strict laws separating students into groups. While in ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ the segregation is based on the students’ performance, in ‘Prison School,’ it is all about discipline and following school guidelines.
Hachimitsu Private Academy recently became a co-ed school. Previously, it was the most prestigious all-girls boarding school. As a result of the new change, five boys enroll in the academy. The current members of the all-girls underground student council are not too happy about the change and don’t like the idea of sharing a classroom with them. But the boys end up digging a grave for themselves when they are caught peeping at a girl taking a shower. They are then sent to the prison within the school premises. Now, if they behave well, they will get a chance to attend school. But it seems that the council members are not willing to let that happen. In order to find out what happens next, you can watch the anime on Funimation or Hulu.
6. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010)
‘Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu’ is another entertaining anime set in a high school. Like ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ the school in ‘Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu’ have rules that separate high-performing students from the low-performing ones. The students at the higher level get more respect and resources from the school, which the lower ones don’t. Both series have a main character who needs to gain points to get his class to the upper level.
Fumizuki Gakuen’s High School segregates its students into classes. Class A has prodigies, while class F is for losers. Class A students receive comfortable seats and air-conditioned rooms, but Class F students receive worn-out mats to sit. Akihisa Yoshii, a student of Class F, plans on getting his class to the upper level by making them use the fantasy creatures that his academy summons in a battle against the elites. You can watch the anime here on Hulu or Funimation.
5. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (2014)
‘Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei’ is science-fiction supernatural anime. The series like ‘Classroom of The Elite’ revolves around students lives’ in a high school. The school separates students based on their performances. The students at a lower level don’t get enough respect and must work hard to improve their status quo. Magic is a common thing in this anime. It is no longer the stuff from fairy tales or folklore; rather, it is a refined technology that finds its use in the daily lives of people.
First High School is a prestigious academy that trains students in magic. The school has a policy by which they put students in two groups based on their performance on the entrance tests. The Blooms are the high performers, while the Weeds are under-performers. Tatsuya ends up in the Weeds course, while Miyuki, his cousin, being a prodigy, ends up taking the Blooms course. But Tatsuya isn’t dumb. He has the decent technical knowledge and nice combat skills. He also has a unique set of magic techniques. You can watch the anime on Funimation.
4. Kakegurui (2017)
‘Kakegurui’ is a psychological thriller that has a lot in common with ‘Classroom of The Elites.’ Both anime take place in a school setting. Students of both schools view money as a sign of status, and those having more money enjoy more respect than the poorer students.
Hyakkaou Private Academy is a place where education isn’t really important. The school rather prepares the students for the real world. Of course, there are regular courses that take place during the day. But that is boring and not the main focus here. During the nighttime hours, the students indulge in high stake gambling. People who win make lots of money, and in this academy, money is power. Yumeko Jabami is a transfer student at the academy. She is pretty and seems naive, but her unorthodox approach to gambling might make her the gambling queen at the academy. You can watch the anime on Netflix.
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3. Grisaia no Kajitsu (2014)
‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ is a harem anime. But unlike most harem anime, it takes a different turn. It is not blatantly trying to make pretty girls fall head over heels in love with the male protagonist, but rather there is a logical and emotional build-up. Also, the show has a lot of drama and not that much comedy as may expect from a show of the same genre. The reason I put this anime on this list is because of how the characters are explored. Both ‘Classroom of The Elite’ and ‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ focus a lot on the characters’ backstories, making them really complex and layered.
‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ revolves around the people of Mihama Academy. But this academy is unlike any normal school since there are just five students (all girls) and a principal. Yuuji Kazami, an introverted teenager, gets transferred to the Mihama Academy and tries to keep to himself. But in a surrounding where there are a small number of students sharing a common space, interactions are inevitable. Yuuji learns a lot about these girls and understands that they are all troubled souls who are struggling with their worldly problems. Can he help them out when he himself has his own unresolved issues? You can watch the anime here.
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2. Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (2015)
‘Ansatsu Kyoushitsu’ is on this list because of its similarities with ‘Classroom of The Elite.’ The first similarity, like all others in this list, is obvious: both anime are set in a high school. Another similarity is that the students in both these anime are segregated based on their performances. The lower-level students don’t receive any respect and try their best to reach the top tier.
Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Middle School is filled with misfits and under-performers. They are students who could not perform well or have broken the guidelines. But they never would have imagined that they would have the chance to save humanity. So, when a mysterious creature destroys half of the moon, people are alarmed. Their fears are justified as he promises to do the same thing to Earth unless he is killed. But he isn’t merciless. He is going to give them enough chances to assassinate him. Not only this, but he is also going to teach the students of Class 3-E, giving them ample chance to execute him. Are they up for the task? Should they try to kill the best teacher they ever had? You can watch the anime on Hulu or Funimation.
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1. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. (2013)
Like ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ ‘Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru’ is also set in a high school. Though there are no guidelines pertaining to segregation between students, the main characters in this anime are meant to join a club because of their behavior. The backstories of these characters matter a lot, just like in ‘Classroom of The Elite.’ Hachiman Hikigaya is a narcissist and a semi-nihilist. He thinks that he knows the truth about life and everyone else is just trying to fool themselves. In an essay assignment, he drafts an essay mocking modern social relationships. This does not sit well with his teacher, who makes him join the Volunteer Service club, which helps students in need. Yukino Yukinoshita is another member of the club. She is unsocial and has an ice-cold personality. Are they suitable for helping others? Is Hachiman’s objective and pessimistic view about the world going to help him in his tasks, or will it become an obstacle? In order to find out, you can watch all the episodes of the anime on VRV.
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