The national core curriculum defines the objectives and core contents of the different subjects, subject groups, thematic subject modules and student counselling for general upper secondary education and on the allocation of the time to be used for instruction in different subjects and subject groups and for student counselling.
After compulsory basic education school-leavers opt for general or vocational upper secondary education. Both forms usually take three years and give eligibility for higher education. Vocational education and training is not offered in Pyhäjoki but students have a chance to choose vocational education in the region.
The selection of students for upper secondary school is based on their grade point average for the theoretical subjects in the basic education certificate. Most of the upper secondary level students in Pyhäjoki are local but there are also many students from the neigbouring municipalities.