After receiving lots of recommendation from local officials and parishioners to convert it into a regular high school, Fr. Thiel solicited funds from his benefactors and friends abroad to answer this call. Bro. Benedict who is an architect helped to finish the main school building at the beautiful site overlooking the scenic Muelle Bay. In 1967, after completing all the necessary requirements and facilities, the Ministry of Education granted the permit to operate under the 2-2 plan. There was only one section of first year students. In the school year 1971- 1972, Puerto Galera Academy was given the full government recognition. In the same school year, the first batch of 77 pioneering graduates marched. It continued to live on with its mission to evangelize and educate students. In 1974, Fr. Thiel retired and was succeeded by another German priest in the person of Fr. Henry Schenk, SVD. who continued the construction of more classrooms to cater the growing number of enrollees.

In 1981, Fr. Cenon Garcia is the first diocesan priest to become school director. Seeing the need of the student to be physically fit, he initiated the construction of the new basketball court near the parish church. In 1986, he was succeeded by another SVD missionary, Fr. Pacifico Ambion Jr., SVD. In 1989, Fr. Karl Koeneg, SVD took over. He captured the hearts and sympathy of the teachers through his unconventional approach. He initiated a program that would generate funds to become seed money for the foundation he wanted to set up for teachers. In 1994, Fr. Lloyd Fiedler, SVD arrived. He opened the pre-school and grade school departments (Kinder to IV) in 1995. It was also the year when the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne started to teach in PGA. They also sent more scholars. PGA also started offering the computer classes in Junior High School. In the following years, he completed the grade school. He began the construction of five new classrooms and a two-story building that housed the computer and science laboratories, library and administrative offices. In 1999, Fr. John Seland, SVD Foundation constructed the new Technology and Livelihood Education building.

In 2000 Fr. Jose A. San Juan Jr., SVD succeeded as School director. He constructed and replaced the five classrooms which were razed by fire in 2002. This made PGA suffer a great setback. It was also in this same year when PGA registered the highest enrolment in high school department with 990 students, and Puerto Galera Academy Educational Assistance Foundation Inc. was established. It aimed to help the teachers and grant scholarship to deserving students. In 2007, the first Grand Alumni homecoming was held and generated an amount that was donated to help build the St. Joseph Freinademetz Gymnasium. In 2013, the school was crowned PSAA (Parochial Schools Athletic Association) Basketball Champion. Fr. Benito S. Semilla took over as school director when Fr. SJ vacated the position in 2016. In the same year, PGA, with the support of alumni and parents, constructed two air-conditioned classrooms that would be used by the incoming Senior High School GAS students. In 2017, the school celebrated its golden anniversary. Fr. Itoy, as he was fondly called, succumbed to heart attack on November 2017. In 2018, when Fr. Norman F. Cusi succeeded as school director, PGA added the remaining Academic strands, (STEM, HUMMS, ABM) to complete the Senior High.