Fair Value Measurements (Details)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	2 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	May 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	May 31, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 20, 2014 Open Colleges [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] AUD	Aug. 31, 2013 Current Portion [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Current Portion [Member] Open Colleges [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] Noncontrolling Interest in Apollo Global [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] Noncontrolling Interest in Apollo Global [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 1 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 1 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 1 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 1 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 2 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 2 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 2 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 2 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Recurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Level 3 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Level 3 [Member] Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement [Member] USD ($)
Assets and liabilities measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis [Line Items]
Contingent consideration															$ 0	$ 35,239,000	$ 41,893,000	$ 5,277,000	$ 6,700,000	$ 6,000,000			$ 0	$ 0			$ 0	$ 0			$ 41,893,000	$ 5,277,000	$ 0
Balance															0	35,239,000	41,893,000	5,277,000	6,700,000	6,000,000			0	0			0	0			41,893,000	5,277,000	0
Initial contingent consideration at fair value												21,371,000	21,371,000
Contingent consideration paid														37,800,000
Initial contingent consideration at fair value										6,000,000
Change in fair value included in net income									13,907,000	(723,000)
Currency translation adjustment									1,338,000	0
Balance															0	35,239,000	41,893,000	5,277,000	6,700,000	6,000,000			0	0			0	0			41,893,000	5,277,000	0
Initial lease obligations																					34,701,000	92,151,000			0	0			0	0				34,701,000	92,151,000
Losses for period	$ 23,200,000	$ 14,900,000	$ 15,200,000	$ 32,000,000	$ 67,300,000	$ 61,500,000	$ 44,100,000	$ 24,100,000	$ 85,343,000	$ 197,022,000	$ 38,695,000										$ 34,701,000	$ 92,151,000