Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total		Noncontrolling Interests		Total SSI Shareholders' Equity		Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2010	$ 979,632		$ 4,306		$ 975,326		$ 22,700	$ 4,721	$ 1,815	$ 948,642		$ (2,552)
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2010							22,700	4,721
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	123,436	[1]	5,081	[1]	118,355	[1]	0	0	0	118,355	[1]	0	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4,092	[2]	0	[2]	4,092	[2]	0	0	0	0	[2]	4,092	[2]
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,863)		(2,863)		0		0	0	0	0		0
Share repurchases, shares							(254)	0
Share repurchases	(10,303)		0		(10,303)		(254)	0	(10,049)	0		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares							(70)	0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(3,800)		0		(3,800)		(70)	0	(3,730)	0		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares							185	0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		0		185	0	(185)	0		0
Stock options exercised, shares	19						19	0
Stock options exercised	567		0		567		19	0	548	0		0
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock, shares							1,661	(1,661)
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock	0		0		0		1,661	(1,661)	0	0		0
Share-based compensation expense	12,830		0		12,830		0	0	12,830	0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(467)		0		(467)		0	0	(467)	0		0
Cash dividends	(1,888)				(1,888)		0	0	0	(1,888)		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	1,101,236		6,524		1,094,712		24,241	3,060	762	1,065,109		1,540
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2011							24,241	3,060
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	30,080	[1]	2,676	[1]	27,404	[1]	0	0	0	27,404	[1]	0	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,129)	[2]	0	[2]	(4,129)	[2]	0	0	0	0	[2]	(4,129)	[2]
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,087)		(4,087)		0		0	0	0	0		0
Share repurchases, shares							(1,124)	0
Share repurchases	(33,194)		0		(33,194)		(1,124)	0	(6,570)	(25,500)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares							(69)	0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(2,307)		0		(2,307)		(69)	0	(2,238)	0		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares							199	0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		0		199	0	(199)	0		0
Stock options exercised, shares	25						25	0
Stock options exercised	608		0		608		25	0	583	0		0
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock, shares							1,947	(1,947)
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock	0		0		0		1,947	(1,947)	0	0		0
Share-based compensation expense	9,618		0		9,618		0	0	9,618	0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(1,140)		0		(1,140)		0	0	(1,140)	0		0
Cash dividends	(10,989)		0		(10,989)		0	0	0	(10,989)		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	1,085,696		5,113		1,080,583		25,219	1,113	816	1,056,024		(2,589)
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2012							25,219	1,113
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(279,120)	[1]	2,322	[1]	(281,442)	[1]	0	0	0	(281,442)	[1]	0	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,772)	[2]	0	[2]	(6,772)	[2]	0	0	0	0	[2]	(6,772)	[2]
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,794)		(2,794)		0		0	0	0	0		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares							(102)	0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(2,673)		0		(2,673)		(102)	0	(2,571)	0		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares							319	0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		0		319	0	(319)	0		0
Stock options exercised, shares	15						15	0
Stock options exercised	316		0		316		15	0	301	0		0
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock, shares							720	(720)
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock	0		0		0		720	(720)	0	0		0
Share-based compensation expense	11,475		0		11,475		0	0	11,475	0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(2,226)		0		(2,226)		0	0	(2,226)	0		0
Adjustment to fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(2,449)		0		(2,449)		0	0	0	(2,449)		0
Cash dividends	(20,254)		0		(20,254)		0	0	0	(20,254)		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2013	$ 781,199		$ 4,641		$ 776,558		$ 26,171	$ 393	$ 7,476	$ 751,879		$ (9,361)
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2013							26,171	393

[1] Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests at August 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 excludes $(903) thousand, $(1,163) thousand and $100 thousand, respectively, allocable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest, which, prior to its purchase on March 8, 2013, was reported in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets at August 31, 2012 and 2011. See Note 13 - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further detail.

[2] Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax for the years ended August 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 excludes $(1,030) thousand, $350 thousand and $(509) thousand respectively, relating to the redeemable noncontrolling interest, which, prior to its purchase on March 8, 2013, was reported in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets at August 31, 2012 and 2011. See Note 13 - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further detail.