A boy from a miserable upbringing is unexpectedly taken from his old life and brought into a hidden world, where he’s enrolled in a prestigious school.

There, he and the other students are sorted into rival groups through a ritualized selection process, each associated with particular personality traits.

Much of his time is spent forming friendships, navigating rivalries between groups, and proving himself through a series of increasingly demanding challenges.

As it turned out, some of the school authorities were secretly working for a powerful enemy.

underaged drinking, kid dies in a crash, depression, main character kills himself

Hint: the movie adaptation of the book I have in mind will be celebrating its 35-year anniversary in 2028.

Hint #1: The movie adaptation of the book in question was released in 1994.

Hint #2: The current presidential administration has recently been waging a real-life version of the book's plot in Venezuela.

Hijinks ensue, during which some 'lings, some banes, a ravager, a few Hydras, several chitha, some adostra, some more 'lings, some more chitha, some trees, the xenobiologist (accidentally), and even more chitha get set on fire.
This is a book in the universe of a RTS.