Ultimate

Ultimate, called Super High School Level (超高校級の chō kōkō kyū no) in Japanese version, is a title given to talented people described as being the very best at what they do and they often specialize in one subject.

Ultimates are in the high school age range, usually being 15-18, though others such as Yasuhiro Hagakure who is older due to being held back. It is a prominent part of the Danganronpa series appearing in both the Hope's Peak Academy Saga and the Gifted Inmates Academy Saga.

Hope's Peak Academy Saga
Ultimates mostly appear as students of Hope's Peak Academy, either current or former. Apart from Hope's Peak Academy, several appear as prominent members of the Future Foundation.

In Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy - Side: Future, it is revealed that graduates of Hope's Peak Academy are called Ex-Ultimates, or Former Super High School-Level in the Japanese version.

Hope's Peak Academy
Hope's Peak Academy first appears in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. The high school is a prestigious academy that enrolls students based on two criteria: they are already attending high school and they are the very best at what they do. These students were primarily identified by talent scouts such as Koichi Kizakura, but others have been scouted personally by the Steering Committee - so far, Junko Enoshima and Mukuro Ikusaba are the only examples of the latter. Additionally, an annual draw is enacted to select a random student in Japan to become the Ultimate Lucky Student, including Nagito Komaeda of Class 77-B and Makoto Naegi of Class 78th (previously an unnamed girl as revealed in Makoto Naegi's Worst Day Ever until the letter was destroyed by a chain of events accidentally set up by Makoto).

In Danganronpa/Zero and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, it is revealed that a Reserve Course Department exists, which accepts regular students in exchange for large amounts of money. This attracted a lot of students who were brought here to the brand name; in exchange, Hope's Peak Academy got a lot of money which was used to further their research. Although it is revealed in Danganronpa 3 - Side: Despair that Reserve Course Students could become Ultimates, and thus part of the main course, in reality this was not the case, leading to the frustration of many people in the Reserve Course.

In Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls, it is revealed that there is an Elementary School Division of Hope's Peak Academy made for younger, talented children; these are called Li'l Ultimates, or Super Elementary School-Level (超小学生級の chō shōgakusei kyū no) in the Japanese version.

In Danganronpa 2, it was revealed that Class 77-B was transformed into the self-styled Ultimate Despair led by Junko and Mukuro.

Future Foundation
In the wake of The Tragedy, the Future Foundation was formed by alumni of Hope Peak's Academy. The Divisions of the Future Foundation were commonly led by Ex-Ultimates although some, such as the first and third divisions were led by people associated with Hope's Peak Academy - Kazuo Tengan and Koichi, respectively.

Gifted Inmates Academy Saga
Although little is known about the Gifted Inmates Academy Saga, it is known Ultimates reappear and appear to have the same function as well.

Gifted Inmates Academy
Although little is known about Gifted Inmates Academy, Ultimates appear in the academy. As with Hope's Peak Academy, you must be the very best at the thing you do to achieve the status of an Ultimate.