Fair Value Measurements (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 20, 2013 Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 20, 2013 Open Colleges [Member] AUD	Feb. 28, 2014 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] Noncontrolling Interest in Apollo Global [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 1 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 1 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 1 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 2 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 2 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 2 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)
Assets and liabilities measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis [Line Items]
Contingent consideration maximum						$ 47,200,000	$ 46,500,000	52,500,000.0
Contingent consideration						29,926,000			36,023,000	5,277,000	29,926,000	6,100,000		0	0		0	0		36,023,000	5,277,000	5,855,000	0
Balance						0			36,023,000	5,277,000	29,926,000	6,100,000		0	0		0	0		36,023,000	5,277,000	5,855,000	0
Initial contingent consideration at fair value					21,371,000	21,371,000
Initial contingent consideration at fair value				6,000,000
Change in fair value included in net income			8,754,000	(145,000)
Currency translation adjustment			621,000	0
Balance						29,926,000			36,023,000	5,277,000	29,926,000	6,100,000		0	0		0	0		36,023,000	5,277,000	5,855,000	0
Initial lease obligations													16,972,000			0			0					16,972,000
Losses for period	$ 15,209,000	$ 44,076,000	$ 47,172,000	$ 68,192,000									$ 16,972,000