Segment Reporting - Summary Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and asset impairment		$ 15,708,000	$ 85,661,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets impairment charges	11,585,000	15,708,000	85,464,000
Health Education [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and asset impairment		1,700,000	41,900,000
Preliminary settlement legal matters		10,300,000
Culinary Arts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and asset impairment	10,700,000	13,000,000
Design & Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill Impairment			40,800,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Insurance recovery related to the settlement of claims under certain insurance policies			19,000,000
Transitional Schools [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and asset impairment			1,000,000
Goodwill Impairment			700,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets impairment charges			$ 900,000