Amount of additional credit facility sanctioned.

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Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of credit facility sanctioned.

+ Details

Name:	schl_CreditFacilitySanctioned
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Credit facility sanctioned during the period.

+ Details

Name:	schl_CreditFacilitySanctionedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage range maximum of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityFeePercentageRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage range minimum of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityFeePercentageRangeMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of final payment during the period.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityFinalPayment
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest rate for loans borrowed under the loan agreement during the period.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the lowest range for loans borrowed under the loan agreement during the period.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateRangeMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the required quarterly payments made during the period.

+ Details

Name:	schl_LineOfCreditFacilityQuarterlyPrincipalPayment
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value as of the balance sheet date of notes payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

+ Details

Name:	schl_NotesPayableNoncurrentValue
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of applicable margin on loan agreement as of the reporting date.

+ Details

Name:	schl_PercentageOfApplicableMarginOnLoanAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	schl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of short-term debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph b
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2008	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2003	Aug. 31, 2011 Federal Funds Rate [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Eurodollar Rate [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 LIBOR Rate [Member]	May 31, 2008 Revolving Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Revolving Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Term Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Term Loan [Member]	May 31, 2011 Term Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Term Loan [Member]	May 31, 2008 Term Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Term Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Term Loan [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member]	May 31, 2008 Line of Credit [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member]	May 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Line of Credit [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit, Current	$ 47.4		$ 43.5	$ 50.5															$ 20.0	$ 30.1
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	200.0		203.4	242.3								39.5	50.2	82.3								7.9	0.7	7.7
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate																						4.00%	6.70%	3.90%
Credit Facility Sanctioned During Period		525.0																			325.0
Credit Facility Sanctioned															200.0
Additional Credit Facility Sanctioned									150.0
Line of Credit Facility, Quarterly Principal Payment																	10.7
Line of Credit Facility, Final Payment											7.4
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						0.50%	1.00%
Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate Range Minimum								0.50%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Range, Maximum								1.25%
Percentage of Applicable Margin On Loan Agreement										0.60%		0.75%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage Range Minimum	0.125%
Line of Credit Facility Fee Percentage Range Maximum	0.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.15%
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding																39.5									1.4
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End																1.00%
Notes Payable, Noncurrent, Value					$ 175.0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.00%																	5.00%