Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale - Summary of Major Classes of Assets and Liabilities Reclassified to Held for Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Subtotal: assets of Discontinued Operations	$ 1,269,862	$ 1,337,831
Total liabilities held for sale	689,700	662,684
Discontinued operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	215,599	214,934
Receivables, net	55,295	38,588
Property and equipment, net	558,226	667,527
Goodwill	72,990	131,329
Tradenames	94,235	124,932
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	122,913
Other assets	82,235	99,566
Subtotal: assets of Discontinued Operations	1,201,493	1,276,876
Deferred revenue and student deposits	99,759	115,969
Operating leases, including current portion	132,720
Long-term debt and finance leases, including current portion	183,365	278,074
Other liabilities	248,810	253,397
Total liabilities held for sale	664,654	647,440
Assets classified as held for sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Deferred revenue and student deposits	2,553	469
Operating leases, including current portion	11,594
Long-term debt and finance leases, including current portion	2,493	5,370
Other liabilities	8,406	9,405
Total liabilities held for sale	25,046	15,244
UniNorte Brazil | Assets classified as held for sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Receivables, net	7,435	6,983
Property and equipment, net	14,248	16,726
Goodwill	15,243	15,165
Tradenames	8,188	8,146
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	18,652
Other assets	4,603	13,935
Subtotal: assets of Discontinued Operations	$ 68,369	$ 60,955