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 Loss	Class A Common Stock	Class A Common Stock Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock
Beginning balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2014								26,384		306
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2014	$ 775,977	$ 5,193	$ 770,784	$ 19,164	$ 737,571	$ (12,641)		$ 26,384		$ 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 income (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	0	(250)	0	0		$ 250		$ 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
Ending balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2015								26,474		306
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2015	538,551	4,016	534,535	26,211	520,066	(38,522)		$ 26,474		$ 306
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(17,588)	1,821	(19,409)	0	(19,409)	0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,593)	0	(1,593)	0	0	(1,593)		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,126)	(2,126)	0	0	0	0		$ 0		$ 0
Share repurchases, shares								(203)		0
Share repurchases	(3,479)	0	(3,479)	(3,276)	0	0		$ (203)		$ 0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares								(132)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(2,213)	0	(2,213)	(2,081)	0	0		$ (132)		$ 0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares								343		0
Issuance of restricted stock	0	0	0	(343)	0	0		$ 343		$ 0
Share-based compensation expense	10,437	0	10,437	10,437	0	0		0		0
Cash dividends	(20,557)	0	(20,557)	0	(20,557)	0		$ 0		$ 0
Ending balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2016							26,482	26,482	306	306
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	501,432	3,711	497,721	30,948	480,100	(40,115)		$ 26,482		$ 306
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	46,978	2,467	44,511	0	44,511	0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4,822	0	4,822	0	0	4,822		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,271)	(2,271)	0	0	0	0		$ 0		$ 0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes, shares								(148)		0
Restricted stock withheld for taxes	(3,474)	0	(3,474)	(3,326)	0	0		$ (148)		$ 0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares								419		0
Issuance of restricted stock		0	0	(419)	0	0		$ 419		$ 0
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock, shares								106		(106)
Class B common stock converted to Class A common stock		0	0	0	0	0		$ 106		$ (106)
Share-based compensation expense	10,847		10,847	10,847	0	0		0		0
Cash dividends	(20,841)	0	(20,841)	0	(20,841)	0		$ 0		$ 0
Ending balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2017							26,859	26,859	200	200
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 537,493	$ 3,907	$ 533,586	$ 38,050	$ 503,770	$ (35,293)		$ 26,859		$ 200