Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
Net sales	$ 591,761,000	$ 542,295,000	$ 1,240,980,000	$ 1,157,348,000
Cost of sales	501,937,000	464,221,000	1,046,227,000	992,430,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	71,604,000	70,093,000	148,841,000	130,640,000
Restructuring expense	2,214,000	2,662,000	3,760,000	7,881,000
Operating income	16,006,000	5,319,000	42,152,000	26,397,000
Interest expense	13,790,000	2,311,000	27,408,000	4,670,000
Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses	950,000	1,141,000	1,679,000	2,240,000
Other (income) expense, net	(88,000)	(311,000)	(17,000)	(565,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	0	(1,290,000)	0	(1,290,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	1,354,000	3,468,000	13,082,000	21,342,000
Provision (benefit) for U.S. and foreign income taxes	(487,000)	3,971,000	3,764,000	8,457,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,841,000	(503,000)	9,318,000	12,885,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	181,000	(58,000)	201,000	(68,000)
Net income (loss)	2,022,000	(561,000)	9,519,000	12,817,000
Noncontrolling interests	(430,000)	(327,000)	(834,000)	(547,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.	1,592,000	(888,000)	8,685,000	12,270,000
Convertible special stock dividends	1,875,000	0	3,750,000	0
Net income (loss) available to A. Schulman, Inc. common stockholders	$ (283,000)	$ (888,000)	$ 4,935,000	$ 12,270,000
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	29,292	29,138	29,257	29,078
Diluted	29,292	29,138	29,455	29,538
Basic earnings per share available to A. Schulman, Inc. common stockholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.16	$ 0.42
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0.01	0.00	0.01	0.00
Net income (loss) available to A. Schulman, Inc. common stockholders	(0.01)	(0.03)	0.17	0.42
Diluted earnings per share available to A. Schulman, Inc. common stockholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(0.02)	(0.03)	0.16	0.42
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0.01	0.00	0.01	0.00
Net income (loss) available to A. Schulman, Inc. common stockholders	(0.01)	(0.03)	0.17	0.42
Cash dividends per common share	0.205	0.205	0.410	0.410
Cash dividends per share of convertible special stock	$ 15.00	$ 0.00	$ 30.00	$ 0.00