Accrued and Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	May 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Accrued and other current liabilities [Abstract]
Salaries, wages and benefits	$ 105,616,000	$ 93,763,000
Accrued legal and other professional obligations	61,544,000	197,957,000
Accrued advertising	41,534,000	50,172,000
Deferred rent and other lease liabilities	19,839,000	18,869,000
Curriculum materials	13,686,000	16,198,000
Unsettled share repurchases	10,244,000	0
Student refunds, grants and scholarships	6,530,000	17,360,000
Other accrued liabilities	52,226,000	54,618,000
Total accrued and other current liabilities	311,219,000	448,937,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred rent and other lease liabilities	88,556,000	74,136,000
Uncertain tax positions	29,249,000	22,277,000
Deferred gains on sale-leasebacks	26,392,000	28,490,000
Restructuring obligations	22,982,000	14,604,000
Other	36,458,000	24,832,000
Total other long-term liabilities	203,637,000	164,339,000
Securities Class Action (Policeman's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago) [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Securities class action settlement liability		$ 145,000,000