Waltham Among 26 Looking for 'Gateway City' Status

Historically, making it into the category of “gateway city” hasn’t necessarily been a positive distinction. The designation confirms that the city has a median household average income that falls below $66,000, as well as 40 percent of the population with less than a bacherlor’s degree.

But many say that the stigma attached to is is fading, and that being a “gateway city” means a lot of state money, reports the Boston Globe.

Some 12 or so legislators are working to get the designation for their city, including Waltham, which doesn’t yet meet the criteria with a median family income of $80,000.

State Representative Thomas M. Stanley, who represents the 9th Middlesex District that includes Waltham and Lincoln, filed at bill at the beginning of the year that would change the parameters in which a city has to fall to meet the criteria. Among the four criteria would be “an increase over two consecutive years of over 25 per cent enrollment of students who are English language learners in its public school system.”

Waltham educates many non English-speaking students, citing the need for funds to accommodate the demand, reported the Globe.

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