Discontinued Operations (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 Institute for Professional Development [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 Mander Portman Woodward [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Mander Portman Woodward [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Mander Portman Woodward [Member] GBP (£)
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition				$ 4,000,000		$ 85,300,000	£ 54,800,000
Gain (loss) on sale	809,000				0	26,678,000
Net revenue	22,901,000	45,386,000	84,356,000
Costs and other	(35,163,000)	(52,364,000)	(74,772,000)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes	(11,453,000)	(6,978,000)	36,262,000
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	4,835,000	2,433,000	(2,763,000)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6,618,000)	(4,545,000)	33,499,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(4,871,000)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to Apollo	(6,618,000)	(4,545,000)	28,628,000
Tax expense from sale						$ 0