Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total		Noncontrolling Interests		Total SSI Shareholders' Equity		Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Class A Common Stock	Class A Common Stock Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock
Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	$ 1,085,696		$ 5,113		$ 1,080,583		$ 816	$ 1,056,024	$ (2,589)			$ 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]	2,322	[1]	(281,442)		0	(281,442)	0			$ 0		$ 0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(6,772)	[2]	0		(6,772)	[2]	0	0	(6,772)	[2]		0		0
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)		(2,571)	0	0			$ (102)		$ 0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares												319		0
Issuance of restricted stock	$ 0		0		0		(319)	0	0			$ 319		$ 0
Stock options exercised, shares	15											15		0
Stock options exercised	$ 316		0		316		301	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		0		11,475		11,475	0	0			0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(2,226)		0		(2,226)		(2,226)	0	0			0		0
Adjustments to fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(2,449)		0		(2,449)		0	(2,449)	0			0		0
Cash dividends	(20,254)		0		(20,254)		0	(20,254)	0			0		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2013	781,199		4,641		776,558		7,476	751,879	(9,361)			$ 26,171		$ 393
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2013												26,171		393
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	9,591		3,667		5,924		0	5,924	0			$ 0		$ 0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(3,280)		0		(3,280)		0	0	(3,280)			0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,115)		(3,115)		0		0	0	0			$ 0		$ 0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares												(59)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(1,578)		0		(1,578)		(1,519)	0	0			$ (59)		$ 0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares												176		0
Issuance of restricted stock	$ 0		0		0		(176)	0	0			$ 176		$ 0
Stock options exercised, shares	9											9		0
Stock options exercised	$ 240		0		240		231	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		0		14,506		14,506	0	0			0		0
Excess tax deficiency from stock options exercised and restricted stock units vested	(1,354)		0		(1,354)		(1,354)	0	0			0		0
Cash dividends	(20,232)		0		(20,232)		0	(20,232)	0			0		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2014	775,977		5,193		770,784		19,164	737,571	(12,641)			$ 26,384		$ 306
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2014											26,384	26,384	306	306
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(195,076)		1,933		(197,009)		0	(197,009)	0			$ 0		$ 0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(25,881)		0		(25,881)		0	0	(25,881)			0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,110)		(3,110)		0		0	0	0			$ 0		$ 0
Share repurchases, shares												(68)		0
Share repurchases	(1,347)		0		(1,347)		(1,279)	0	0			$ (68)		$ 0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares												(92)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	$ (1,997)		0		(1,997)		(1,905)	0	0			$ (92)		$ 0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares												250		0
Issuance of restricted stock			0		0		(250)	0	0			$ 250		$ 0
Stock options exercised, shares	0
Share-based compensation expense	$ 10,481		0		10,481		10,481	0	0			0		0
Cash dividends	(20,496)		0		(20,496)		0	(20,496)	0			0		0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 538,551		$ 4,016		$ 534,535		$ 26,211	$ 520,066	$ (38,522)			$ 26,474		$ 306
Balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2015											26,474	26,474	306	306

[1] Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests at August 31, 2013 excludes $(903) thousand 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 year ended August 31, 2013 excludes $(1,030) thousand 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.