<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHULMAN A INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RJG Capital Management LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11517 WEST HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH BETHESDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20852</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373228</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RJG Capital Partners LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373230</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gross Ronald J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By RJG Capital Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are owned directly by RJG Capital Partners, L.P.  As the general partner of RJG Capital Partners, L.P., RJG Capital Management, LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the 12,500  shares owned by RJG Capital Partners, L.P.  As the managing member of RJG Capital Management, LLC, which in turn is the general partner of RJG Capital Partners, L.P., Ronald J. Gross may be deemed to beneficially own the 12,500 shares owned by RJG Capital Partners, L.P.  Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding Common Stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>RJG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, By: /s/ Ronald J. Gross, its Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>RJG CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P., By: RJG Capital Management, LLC, its general partner, By: /s/ Ronald J. Gross, its Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ronald J. Gross</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
