While Classroom of the Elite charmed people with its cold, cunning, but also somewhat kind main character in an elite school that is somehow both fictional, but not as far from reality as you’d hope, the series does have a bit of diminishing returns for enjoyment in its subsequent seasons. However, in truth, that dip in quality is more due to the adaptation quality than the quality of content in the light novels.
Alternative Titles:
- Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e
- You-jitsu
- ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ
Year Anime Premiered: 2017
Animation Studio: Lerche
Number of Seasons: 4
Source Material Country of Origin: Japan
Source Material Available: Light Novel, Manga
Is It Officially Licensed Past Where The Anime Ends?: Light Novel: Yes, Manga: No
Is It Fan Translated Past Where The Anime Ends?: Light Novel: Yes, Manga: Yes
Entry Last Updated: June 24th, 2026 – Updated for Season 4 end
Where To Start The Classroom of the Elite Light Novel After The Anime?
If you finished the Classroom of the Elite anime and want to continue the story in the light novels, you can start at:
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 1 anime – You can start the light novels at Novel 4
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 2 anime – You can start the light novels at Novel 8
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 3 anime – You can start the light novels at Novel 1 of the Classroom of the Elite: Year 2
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 4 anime – You can start the light novels at Novel 5 of the Classroom of the Elite: Year 2
Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 is a separate sequel series.
Is The Classroom of the Elite Light Novel Over?
The Classroom of the Elite: Year 1 light novels are completed. It ended in 2019 with Novel 11.5
The sequel light novels, Classroom of the Elite: Year 2, are also complete. They ended in 2024 with Novel 12.5.
The second sequel light novels, Classroom of the Elite: Year 3, are ongoing. It started in 2025 and released three novels that year.
Where To Start The Classroom of the Elite Manga After The Anime?
If you finished the Classroom of the Elite anime and want to continue the story in the manga, you can start at:
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 1 anime – You can start the manga at Volume 7, Chapter 28.
- If you finished the Classroom of the Elite Season 2 anime – The anime surpassed the manga.
While Classroom of the Elite also has a manga, season two zipped right past it. So now the Classroom of the Elite manga is well behind the anime. Only adapting about to volume 5 of the light novel right now, which is the sports festival and is very early in Season 2.
If you watched all three season of the Classroom of the Elite anime, you can technicality now start the Year Two manga, which is ongoing alongside the Year 1 manga, at Chapter 1.
Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (currently being covered by Season 4 and upcoming Season 5) also has two separate manga. The first manga, simply called Year 2, adapts the first novel of the Year 2 series, and the currently ongoing manga, Year 2 Second Stage, is currently adapting the second light novel.
Is The Classroom of the Elite Manga Over?
The Classroom of the Elite manga is still ongoing. Both the Classroom of the Elite: Year 1 and Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 manga are publishing at the same time. However, you cannot read the Year 2 manga without finishing the Year 1 story.
It is widely speculated that, since it hasn’t published properly since 2022, that the Year One manga is discontinued. It covers through Novel 5 of the Year 1 light novel.
The Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 manga releases at a volume per year rate. In 2025, it was rebranded as Classroom of the Elite: Year Two 2nd Stage as it got a new artist.
What to Expect From The Classroom of the Elite Source Material Compared to The Anime?
The first season of Classroom of the Elite was a fairly decent adaptation of the material, but both Season 2 and Season 3 cut a substantial amount from the story. While the anime adapted some moments from the side story novels (Novels 4.5, 7.5, 11.5) of Year One, they were widely skipped.
It it because the Classroom of the Elite anime skipped so much in the second and third seasons that it is really recommended to either read the light novel/manga from the beginning, or at least after where Season 1 ended. That said, technically you can continue on, but you will have missed character development and moments that may leave you a bit lost.
That said, Season 4 provided a better pacing compromise and includes far more light novel details. You would still definitely enjoy the story more reading Year 2 from the beginning as well, but the anime skipped much less.
Will There Be A Classroom of the Elite Season 5?
It was announced after Season 4 that Classroom of the Elite would continue in a Season 5 anime, but no announcement as to when that will actually air has been released.
You can find out where to continue the Classroom of the Elite story after Season 5 here after the final episode of Season 5 airs.
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saying that his tone changes to be closer to the anime later in the novels is a spoiler, isn’t it?
Not really? I mean, you already know the tone and why he is that way from the anime already if you are picking it up post-anime.