Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)		Total SSI Shareholders' Equity USD ($)		Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Retained Earnings USD ($)		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) USD ($)		Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)		Class A Common Stock	Class A Common Stock Common Stock USD ($)	Class B Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock USD ($)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	$ 1,101,236		$ 1,094,712		$ 762	$ 1,065,109		$ 1,540		$ 6,524			$ 24,241		$ 3,060
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2011													24,241		3,060
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	30,080		27,404		0	27,404		0		2,676	[1]		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,129)	[2]	(4,129)	[2]	0	0	[2]	(4,129)	[2]	0	[2]		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(4,087)		0		0	0		0		(4,087)			0		0
Share repurchases, shares													(1,124)		0
Share repurchases	(33,194)		(33,194)		(6,570)	(25,500)		0		0			(1,124)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares													(69)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(2,307)		(2,307)		(2,238)	0		0		0			(69)		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares													199		0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		(199)	0		0		0			199		0
Stock options exercised, shares	25												25		0
Stock options exercised	608		608		583	0		0		0			25		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	0		0		0			1,947		(1,947)
Share-based compensation expense	9,618		9,618		9,618	0		0		0			0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(1,140)		(1,140)		(1,140)	0		0		0			0		0
Cash dividends	(10,989)		(10,989)		0	(10,989)		0		0			0		0
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	(1,163)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	350
Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	1,085,696		1,080,583		816	1,056,024		(2,589)		5,113			25,219		1,113
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2012													25,219		1,113
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(279,120)	[1]	(281,442)		0	(281,442)		0		2,322	[1]		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,772)	[2]	(6,772)	[2]	0	0		(6,772)	[2]	0			0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,794)		0		0	0		0		(2,794)			0		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares													(102)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(2,673)		(2,673)		(2,571)	0		0		0			(102)		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares													319		0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		(319)	0		0		0			319		0
Stock options exercised, shares	15												15		0
Stock options exercised	316		316		301	0		0		0			15		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	0		0		0			720		(720)
Share-based compensation expense	11,475		11,475		11,475	0		0		0			0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(2,226)		(2,226)		(2,226)	0		0		0			0		0
Adjustments to fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(2,449)		(2,449)		0	(2,449)		0		0			0		0
Cash dividends	(20,254)		(20,254)		0	(20,254)		0		0			0		0
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	(903)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,030)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2013	781,199		776,558		7,476	751,879		(9,361)		4,641			26,171		393
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2013												26,171	26,171	393	393
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	9,591	[1]	5,924		0	5,924		0		3,667	[1]		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,280)	[2]	(3,280)	[2]	0	0		(3,280)	[2]	0			0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,115)		0		0	0		0		(3,115)			0		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares													(59)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(1,578)		(1,578)		(1,519)	0		0		0			(59)		0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares													176		0
Issuance of restricted stock	0		0		(176)	0		0		0			176		0
Stock options exercised, shares	9												9		0
Stock options exercised	240		240		231	0		0		0			9		0
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock, shares													87		(87)
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock	0		0		0	0		0		0			87		(87)
Share-based compensation expense	14,506		14,506		14,506	0		0		0			0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(1,354)		(1,354)		(1,354)	0		0		0			0		0
Cash dividends	(20,232)		(20,232)		0	(20,232)		0		0			0		0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2014	$ 775,977		$ 770,784		$ 19,164	$ 737,571		$ (12,641)		$ 5,193			$ 26,384		$ 306
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2014												26,384	26,384	306	306

[1] Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests at August 31, 2013 and 2012 excludes $(903) thousand and $(1,163) 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. See Note 13 - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further detail.

[2] Other comprehensive loss, net of tax for the years ended August 31, 2013 and 2012 excludes $(1,030) thousand and $350 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. See Note 13 - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further detail.